[It's a little awkward for her to get through the city, with the cold and the people, but she's bundled up, so the lattermost isn't as big of an issue as it could be, at least. So she grits her teeth and ignores everyone's eyes (primarily her imagination anyway, what with the NPC natives) on her and, with quick strides, makes her way to the location indicated on the map. She's not really sure what use she could be for this mission, but she also doesn't know what it is -- it must be something important if Kano didn't tell her -- ?
But when she gets there, she can't find him anyway. No way of knowing.]
[There's no answer, of course. Because Kano isn't there. In fact, he's nowhere near the area he sent Mary to. He didn't send her to one of the more dangerous districts, where the natives would be violent towards her. Nonetheless, for someone who's spent years holed up inside her home... ah, it must be pretty scary right now, huh?
That's what she thinks to herself as her tablet makes its usual ding for text notifications. If it's Kano (it is) something must have come up. He enjoyed teasing her, but he'd definitely never do something so awful as giving her false directions.]
I'm here. Where are you, Kano? There's no one here. Am I early? Did something happen?
[He told her to come as soon as possible so she can't be early, he must be late or maybe the location changed and he just forgot to tell her or?
[At one point, she accidentally makes eye contact with one of the natives, and although her eyes immediately dart back down to her phone, that one glance makes her realize something. It's not the case in the district where she lives, long since used to seeing all sorts of strange people on a monthly basis, but the people here -- are all definitely regarding her as something odd.
Long white hair, and pink eyes. Isn't that somehow a strange match-up?
Off the top of her head, she's unable to remember the last time someone looked at her like this. It's -- frightening. She wants to cry, but that's no way to get better, is it? She can't let the rest of the dan arrive to her with tears in her eyes, not here. So she tries a few breathing exercises and actually reads what's on her tablet, instead of using it to avoid everyone's gazes.
... This is the right place?]
There are a lot of people. Where are you? Aren't you coming, Kano? Are you late?
[What? So he's just not coming? He didn't answer her question.
She keeps moving according to that order though, with her head held low so as to avoid drawing attention to her eyes. ... Stay calm. She forgot to punctuate that last sentence; she has to stay calm.]
Everyone else is here? Then where are you? Are you on a separate mission?
I'm in the area! I'm handling some business first before I come to get you (ﾉ´ｰ`)ﾉ So, just relax and focus on the mission. Can you do that, Mary? You can, right?
[... Ahh. That made sense. That's okay. It's okay. He's here, he's not bullying her, he's just taking care of something first. He can't hear it, but she lets out a sound somewhere between a relieved sigh and a low whining noise. Got to sound cheerful -- ]
[Why wouldn't she trust Kano? He was rude and occasionally went a little too far, but it wasn't as if he'd ever do something to hurt her this badly intentionally -- they were friends. Even then, this still wasn't the worst thing that'd ever happened to her --
So the fact remained that she didn't feel like she had any reason to distrust him. But what's he talking about now?]
[Which is a lie. She's terrified and she wants to go home but her feet won't move very well and she can still feel everyone's eyes on her and she's going to cry and what's wrong with Kano he's never been this mean is he feeling okay - ]
Kano, are you sure you're all right? Where are you? I'll tell Kido!
[But there's no answer. From his end, the texts keep coming.]
It's been a while since you've been in a crowd this large alone. It must be terrifying. Can't you see any place to hide, Mary? Won't you feel better if you find a nice warehouse or something to stuff yourself in~?
[ -- A warehouse. That's right, she'd be safe if she found a warehouse. She could hide from everyone there and wait for someone to come get her.
... Today's experience made for a sobering mistake. Not trusting Kano (which, she would probably admit later, was a mistake here at least. She should've noticed the warning signs.), but thinking she could get past this so quickly and easily. She didn't know what was wrong with him -- maybe that wasn't him on his tablet -- but hearing those words and reaching that realization hurt.
She's still as weak as she's always been. She can't trust Kano at the moment -- or whatever is using Kano's tablet, and she can't trust the people in these crowds. But all she sees is crowd -- is there a warehouse anywhere? She can't ask not-Kano. What did she do to end up so trapped in this situation?
At any rate, she does what any trapped animal -- mouse, rat, bunny, human, snake -- would do. She can't think like this; it wasn't a mistake, but her Eyes are activated despite what she would have done if her mind were clearer. When she realizes what she's done, there's a moment of blatant fear at being seen as even more of a monster before she breaks into a sprint, tears forming in her eyes.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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But I can't say it over the network. So please come as soon as possible, Mary.
[And with this reply is an attached map.
He won't be at the location it's marked with.]
action!!
But when she gets there, she can't find him anyway. No way of knowing.]
... Kano...?
... H-Hey, is... there anyone here...?
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Buzz buzz.]
Are you there yet, Mary???
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That's what she thinks to herself as her tablet makes its usual ding for text notifications. If it's Kano (it is) something must have come up. He enjoyed teasing her, but he'd definitely never do something so awful as giving her false directions.]
I'm here. Where are you, Kano? There's no one here. Am I early? Did something happen?
[He told her to come as soon as possible so she can't be early, he must be late or maybe the location changed and he just forgot to tell her or?
?????????]
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Tell me... what do you see?
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Long white hair, and pink eyes. Isn't that somehow a strange match-up?
Off the top of her head, she's unable to remember the last time someone looked at her like this. It's -- frightening. She wants to cry, but that's no way to get better, is it? She can't let the rest of the dan arrive to her with tears in her eyes, not here. So she tries a few breathing exercises and actually reads what's on her tablet, instead of using it to avoid everyone's gazes.
... This is the right place?]
There are a lot of people. Where are you? Aren't you coming, Kano? Are you late?
Everyone is lookingat me
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Don't worry, don't worry. Just keep walking straiiiight ahead.
Okay?
You'll meet somebody soon!
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She keeps moving according to that order though, with her head held low so as to avoid drawing attention to her eyes. ... Stay calm. She forgot to punctuate that last sentence; she has to stay calm.]
Everyone else is here? Then where are you? Are you on a separate mission?
No one answered when I called. Where are they?
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So, just relax and focus on the mission. Can you do that, Mary?
You can, right?
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Yeah. I can do that!
What is the mission? I still don't know.
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I thought it'd be something Mary'd want to know more about.
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[Why wouldn't she trust Kano? He was rude and occasionally went a little too far, but it wasn't as if he'd ever do something to hurt her this badly intentionally -- they were friends. Even then, this still wasn't the worst thing that'd ever happened to her --
So the fact remained that she didn't feel like she had any reason to distrust him. But what's he talking about now?]
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[But this is around when she starts to wonder if, just maybe, there's something up -- he wouldn't speak to her that derisively.]
Are you okay?
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Hey, isn't it scary all by yourself out there?
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[Which is a lie. She's terrified and she wants to go home but her feet won't move very well and she can still feel everyone's eyes on her and she's going to cry and what's wrong with Kano he's never been this mean is he feeling okay - ]
Kano, are you sure you're all right? Where are you? I'll tell Kido!
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It's been a while since you've been in a crowd this large alone.
It must be terrifying.
Can't you see any place to hide, Mary?
Won't you feel better if you find a nice warehouse or something to stuff yourself in~?
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... Today's experience made for a sobering mistake. Not trusting Kano (which, she would probably admit later, was a mistake here at least. She should've noticed the warning signs.), but thinking she could get past this so quickly and easily. She didn't know what was wrong with him -- maybe that wasn't him on his tablet -- but hearing those words and reaching that realization hurt.
She's still as weak as she's always been. She can't trust Kano at the moment -- or whatever is using Kano's tablet, and she can't trust the people in these crowds. But all she sees is crowd -- is there a warehouse anywhere? She can't ask not-Kano. What did she do to end up so trapped in this situation?
At any rate, she does what any trapped animal -- mouse, rat, bunny, human, snake -- would do. She can't think like this; it wasn't a mistake, but her Eyes are activated despite what she would have done if her mind were clearer. When she realizes what she's done, there's a moment of blatant fear at being seen as even more of a monster before she breaks into a sprint, tears forming in her eyes.
Need to find a safe place to hide.]
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(•ㅅ•)
(o o)
o o
Please be sure to hide yourself well, Miss Medusa.
[It doesn't matter if she replies or not. This is the last message she'll get from him.]